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Barra de Navidad & Melaque Journal - November 7, 2015

Let’s Make History 

Every year in and around November, expats and locals return to the Pacific coast to resume lives of quiet inspiration.

The “Barra full timers,” both expats and nationals, welcome back the “part timers” with the certainty of receiving more support, more appreciation and to begin to make more history together through vibrant artistic projects and enjoyable fund-raising events. 

One such project can now be viewed on the first long wall, ocean side, at the entrance to Barra de Navidad. The painted images on this large mural display the chronological history of the local area, beginning with the native indigenous residents, through the Spanish conquistadors of the 1500’s and on past the Pancho Villa/Zapata revolutionaries. 

Coordinated by full time resident expat Christine Yoast, and with the support of other adult volunteers, the 17-panel mural, painted between 2011 and 2015, is the work of over 50 students from local grade schools, junior high and high schools. Students volunteered their time on Saturday afternoons, making history together to create a dynamic entrance to their beloved town.  

“Although we recently acquired a lovely photographic gallery on the malecon – Barra de Mi Corazon – when we started the project four years ago, there was nothing formal outside of school classrooms to teach visitors and students alike about the rich history of the area,” explains Christine. “The wall itself had been nothing more than a crumbling façade that needed a great deal of effort and skills just to prepare it for the young painters.” 

One interesting piece of information is that Spanish galleons were built in Barra’s lagoon for the first successful voyage to the Philippines and back to the Mexican Pacific coast. Without the support of Mexicans, foreigners and the Costalegre tourism office, this kind of information and this worthy labour of love could not be recognized.

Centro de Yoga 

We know that the coastal town of Barra de Navidad boasts sunshine, ocean breezes, local crafts, restaurants, exciting nightlife and deep fishing. Now it can add yoga to its list of enriching experiences. 

Yoga teachers Aynsley Parker and Kalina Saunders have been providing yoga classes in Barra de Navidad for more than five years, dreaming of one day providing a space dedicated to yoga, wellness and community. This season they have teamed up with another friend and yoga teacher, Nicole Lindsay, to make that dream a reality.

Buena Onda Centro de Yoga opens this month at Morelos 26, two doors down from The Sands Hotel. Like many projects in the Barra area, the overwhelming community support from donations helped make the new space inviting. Special thanks to expat Sally Parker, local engineer Alejandro Amador Navarro and Angelina North, a local graphic designer. See Buena Onda Centro de Yoga on Facebook or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to find out more about the activities available at this center. 

Barra Galeria 

Rosy and Roberto recently announced that Barra Galeria de Arte, formerly Barra Foto Galeria, is broadening its scope to showcase many forms of art. 

Still at Av. Mazatlan 75, the first exhibition of the high season, titled “Everybody  Loves a Sunset,” starts tentatively (due to the hurricane) on Saturday November 21, with a reception from 6 to 9 p.m., running through December 27. 

This is a group exhibition of sunset photos taken in and around the Costalegre region by both amateur and professional photographers. Artists included are native to Mexico as well as tourists and travelers.  

For the hours of the gallery, new popular lounge and restaurant, visit barragaleriadearte.com or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..">This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..